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Info, Insights and Ideas from ViacomMon, 02 Mar 2015 22:21:17 +0000en-UShourly1Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, COO Tom Dooley Look Aheadhttp://blog.viacom.com/2014/11/viacom-ceo-philippe-dauman-coo-tom-dooley-look-ahead/
http://blog.viacom.com/2014/11/viacom-ceo-philippe-dauman-coo-tom-dooley-look-ahead/#commentsThu, 13 Nov 2014 18:45:36 +0000http://blog.viacom.com/?p=6979In company-wide memo following the announcement of Viacom’s year-end results, our CEO Philippe Dauman and COO Tom Dooley looked ahead with excitement about the creativity and innovation that are happening around the company. “There’s so much that we’re excited about in the year to come,” they write. According to the note, they’re particularly excited for more storytelling. More […]

]]>In company-wide memo following the announcement of Viacom’s year-end results, our CEO Philippe Dauman and COO Tom Dooley looked ahead with excitement about the creativity and innovation that are happening around the company.

“There’s so much that we’re excited about in the year to come,” they write. According to the note, they’re particularly excited for more storytelling. More connection. More inclusion. More growth. “Creativity is the connective tissue of it all.” You can read the particulars reprinted from the note, below.

We’ll invest more than ever this year in telling great stories and entertaining our audiences on every screen. We have a portfolio that creates shows as different and great as TV Land’s forthcoming Younger, from the legendary Darren Star, VH1’s upcoming 90s nostalgia comedy Hindsight, and Spike’s bold new scripted fare like Tut and Red Mars. We create characters that impact audiences on any screen. Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob Square Pants will get another bite at the big screen with Paramount Animation’s first movie The SpongeBob Movie:Sponge Out of Water in February. And a beloved Paramount film will find new life on Nickelodeon when the School of Rock television series, executive produced by the incomparable Richard Linklater, comes to the network in the spring.

CONNECTION

As we create great entertainment, we create new ways to connect our audiences with our work. MTV’s “Always On” project is boldly reimagining how television can reflect the culture conversation and social media in real-time. We’re building on our legacy of being first to market with innovative distribution partners, from Sony’s new internet-based television service to Verizon’s forthcoming mobile video service. And we’re building our own, exceptional products, from the new Nick Jr. app and its stunning design for digital native kids, to the CMT Artists app, which connects fans with the tidal wave of young country music talent.

INCLUSION

In early 2015, BET will premiere miniseries “The Book of Negroes,” an adaptation of the heartwrenching novel about a slave’s journey to freedom.

Logo’s first-ever Trailblazers was a powerful tribute to LGBTQ pioneers that will return in 2015 and provide a strong banner tentpole for the network as it continues its evolution. In January, BET will debut Book of Negroes, a miniseries adaptation of the acclaimed 2007 novel on a woman’s harrowing escape from slavery. Finally, Comedy Central is reinventing late-night again with The Minority Report with Larry Wilmore, a long overdue platform for diverse perspectives in the 11 o’clock hour. Can’t wait for that one. In a world in which can feel alternately more tolerant and polarized than ever, we’re reflecting the diversity of our audiences better than ever.

GROWTH

Viacom expands it reach across the globe. This week, the MTV European Music Awards aired live from the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

International growth is the great frontier of our business. The acquisition of Channel 5 was a big victory for Viacom, and it’s inspiring and moving to see how excited its employees are to join our family. Great things will come there as we bring them into the fold, and amplify the impact of their great creative work. Paramount Channel continues to bring the world’s greatest film library to audiences around the world, and launches in the promise-laden Latin American market this month. Spike is going global. And then there’s the personal growth we all aspire to and we want you to achieve here at Viacom. The employee survey has been an incredibly helpful resource for us, and we want to ramp up our professional development efforts in 2015, from the continuation of our Internal Mobility program, to efforts like our Viacom Hackathons in New York to Viacom International Media Networks’ innovation competition, The Pitch, which attracted 117 submissions from teams of employees around the globe.

]]>http://blog.viacom.com/2014/11/viacom-ceo-philippe-dauman-coo-tom-dooley-look-ahead/feed/0http://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Daina-Photo-100x100.jpgReigning, Not Retiring: NYT Mag Profiles Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Including TV Land’s Betty Whitehttp://blog.viacom.com/2014/10/reigning-not-retiring-nyt-mag-profiles-octogenarians-nonagenarians-including-tv-lands-betty-white/
http://blog.viacom.com/2014/10/reigning-not-retiring-nyt-mag-profiles-octogenarians-nonagenarians-including-tv-lands-betty-white/#commentsFri, 24 Oct 2014 16:32:03 +0000http://blog.viacom.com/?p=6957“After 80, some people don’t retire. They reign.” So starts this beautiful photo essay in the New York Times Magazine, “Old Masters at the Top of their Game.” The piece profiles accomplished men and women in their 80s and 90s — from Tony Bennett (88) and Frank Gehry (86) to Senator Dianne Feinstein (81) and […]

So starts this beautiful photo essay in the New York Times Magazine, “Old Masters at the Top of their Game.” The piece profiles accomplished men and women in their 80s and 90s — from Tony Bennett (88) and Frank Gehry (86) to Senator Dianne Feinstein (81) and our very own Betty White (92), iconic actress and star of TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland. Capturing striking environmental portraits, the essay also features Q&As with the octogenarians and nonagenarians — brief but full of wisdom.

“We’ve made age such a terrible thing that the younger people think that just getting to that age is awful,” White says in her Q&A. “But if you’re blessed with good health, and I am, and I never take it for granted, you can get by with murder! You get spoiled rotten.”

Head here for White’s photo, which was taken on the set of Hot in Cleveland, and to check out the other inspiring profiles.

]]>http://blog.viacom.com/2014/10/reigning-not-retiring-nyt-mag-profiles-octogenarians-nonagenarians-including-tv-lands-betty-white/feed/0http://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Daina-Photo-100x100.jpghttp://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/450645230-280x200.jpgViacom’s Pete Chelala Discusses Future of Mobile at IAB Ad Labhttp://blog.viacom.com/2014/06/viacoms-pete-chelala-discusses-future-of-mobile-at-iab-ad-lab/
http://blog.viacom.com/2014/06/viacoms-pete-chelala-discusses-future-of-mobile-at-iab-ad-lab/#commentsWed, 11 Jun 2014 15:13:41 +0000http://blog.viacom.com/?p=6578Last week, the Ad Lab at IAB held a town hall on the future of apps with a group of media and technology leaders, including Viacom’s own Pete Chelala, VP of Mobile Advertising & Products. “Our job is to put the content that [our viewers] love on the screens they can’t live without,” Chelala said. […]

Last week, the Ad Lab at IAB held a town hall on the future of apps with a group of media and technology leaders, including Viacom’s own Pete Chelala, VP of Mobile Advertising & Products.

“Our job is to put the content that [our viewers] love on the screens they can’t live without,” Chelala said.

Check out the video above for some of his thoughts on generational differences in app preferences (i.e. the “now” mentality of the Millennials); app discovery; and how you have to always be a student to stay current in the mobile world.

]]>http://blog.viacom.com/2014/06/viacoms-pete-chelala-discusses-future-of-mobile-at-iab-ad-lab/feed/0http://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Daina-Photo-100x100.jpghttp://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/pete-280x200.jpgCongrats to NAACP Image Award Nominees, Cheers to Inclusion!http://blog.viacom.com/2014/01/congrats-to-naacp-image-award-nominees-cheers-to-inclusion/
http://blog.viacom.com/2014/01/congrats-to-naacp-image-award-nominees-cheers-to-inclusion/#commentsTue, 14 Jan 2014 17:51:52 +0000http://blog.viacom.com/?p=6202At Viacom, promoting diversity and inclusion through our creative endeavors as well as in our workplace is an everyday priority. So, it’s a great honor to see so many Viacom networks and programs represented on the roster of nominees for the NAACP’s 45th Image Awards. Congrats to BET — in the lead with 19 nominations […]

]]>At Viacom, promoting diversity and inclusion through our creative endeavors as well as in our workplace is an everyday priority. So, it’s a great honor to see so many Viacom networks and programs represented on the roster of nominees for the NAACP’s 45th Image Awards. Congrats to BET — in the lead with 19 nominations in the TV categories; TV Land’s “The Soul Man,” in the running for three awards; Nickelodeon for three between “Dora The Explorer” and “2013 HALO Awards”; VH1 for “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story”; and Comedy Central for “Key & Peele.” And of course congrats to the many people and teams that make these awards a possibility.

]]>TV Land staged an historic reunion of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” on “Hot in Cleveland,” and TV fans will finally see the results on tonight at 10 p.m.

The table read kicked off the reunion as “Hot in Cleveland” cast member Betty White, recurring guest star Georgia Engel and their former “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” castmates Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman and Mary Tyler Moore herself got together to read through the script for the first time. It was pure joy from the first moment.

“Did you ever laugh ‘till you cry? That’s been happening a lot,” said Harper.

And the “Hot in Cleveland” cast was having just as much fun.

“We’ve had a ball this week! It’s just been one of those weeks where we’ve been able to sit back and just watch the magic happen,” said “Hot in Cleveland” star Jane Leeves. Valerie Bertinelli added, “It’s pretty surreal to be on the old ‘MTM’ lot with the ‘MTM’ cast.”

In the episode, Elka (Betty White) and Mamie Sue (Georgia Engel) decide to get their bowling team back together, aptly named GLOB: the Gorgeous Ladies of Bowling. The team, which includes Elka, Mamie Sue, Diane (Mary Tyler Moore), Peg (Cloris Leachman) and Angie (Valerie Harper), had a falling out decades ago after their championship season went to their heads.

On tape night, the five former co-stars were reunited on the sitcom stage for the first time in 30 years, and the studio audience gave a long standing ovation.

“It’s been so wonderful,” said Harper. “It’s been so full of life and joy and love and fun!”

As Mary Tyler Moore noted, “No matter where you put us, we’re going to continue to be ourselves, and interact as only you can when you’ve been together for a long, long time.”

]]>http://blog.viacom.com/2013/09/the-mary-tyler-moore-show-cast-reunites-on-hot-in-cleveland/feed/0Comedy Central Honored With Record 18 Emmy Nominationshttp://blog.viacom.com/2013/07/comedy-central-honored-with-record-18-emmy-nominations/
http://blog.viacom.com/2013/07/comedy-central-honored-with-record-18-emmy-nominations/#commentsThu, 18 Jul 2013 20:30:52 +0000http://blog.viacom.com/?p=5470As the 2013 Primetime Emmy nominations are announced, we'd like to give big congratulations to the brainchildren behind Viacom’s Emmy-nominated programs... and this year there were many.

As the 2013 Primetime Emmy nominations are announced, we’d like to give big congratulations to the brainchildren behind Viacom’s Emmy-nominated programs… and this year there were many.

Comedy Central, for one, is on Emmy-nomination fire, with a record-breaking 18 nominations that span The Daily Show (now a 50-time Emmy nominee, 18-time winner), The Colbert Report, South Park, Workaholics, and Key & Peele, as well as its multi-platform efforts and pro-social initiative that drove “Night of Too Many Stars.”

Congrats to Comedy Central, as well as to Nickelodeon and TV Land for representing us with their sharp mix of programming. We’re proud and thrilled to see all your hard work recognized, and cannot wait to see what Jon and Stephen will brew up for the next Emmy awards show.

]]>http://blog.viacom.com/2013/07/comedy-central-honored-with-record-18-emmy-nominations/feed/0http://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/388736_1837133763245_2104730954_n-100x100.jpeghttp://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Jon-Stewart-280x200.jpgViacom Employee Wins Walk-on Role Alongside Iconic Starshttp://blog.viacom.com/2013/04/viacom-employee-wins-walk-on-role-alongside-iconic-stars/
http://blog.viacom.com/2013/04/viacom-employee-wins-walk-on-role-alongside-iconic-stars/#commentsMon, 29 Apr 2013 17:19:29 +0000http://blog.viacom.com/?p=4850When Laura Hobson found out she won a walk-on role on TV Land’s hit sitcom “Hot in Cleveland,” she was shocked beyond words. “I was laughing because I didn’t know what would come of this and I was overwhelmed by everyone calling and emailing me about the news,” said Hobson, Coordinator, Integrated Marketing for Viacom […]

When Laura Hobson found out she won a walk-on role on TV Land’s hit sitcom “Hot in Cleveland,” she was shocked beyond words.

“I was laughing because I didn’t know what would come of this and I was overwhelmed by everyone calling and emailing me about the news,” said Hobson, Coordinator, Integrated Marketing for Viacom Entertainment Group.

Hobson, who won the unique opportunity at the network’s annual All Hands meeting, soon learned that she wasn’t the only special guest — the episode also featured guest stars Carol Burnett, Tim Conway and Jean Smart.

“When I arrived at rehearsal, Betty (White), Carol and Jean were going over their lines in casual clothes,” said Hobson. “It was wild. I walk in and look over and right in front of me they are working on a scene and going through it. It was in that moment that it really hit me that I was witnessing people known for their craft and really practicing and working on it.”

In her scene, Hobson was seated behind White and Burnett in a bar, giving her a first-hand experience of watching the two Emmy®Award-winning actresses interact. During rehearsal, she even had the opportunity to watch Conway give Burnett a hard time about her lines. “It was just great to see them interact as people, peers and friends, especially since there is such a background there professionally and personally.”

After rehearsal, Hobson went to prep, change, and pick up her cousin — a huge Golden Girls fan — who would be attending the taping with her. Since she wasn’t scheduled till the last scene, Hobson watched most of the taping from the Green Room, where she was pleasantly surprised to meet Burnett, who was spending some downtime there was well.

Once it was call time, Hobson took her place with the other extras. “I’ve never done this before, so I asked the extras next to me ‘do I really speak out loud or do I mime this conversation?’ to which they laughed at me,” recalled Hobson. “Thankfully, they taught me the ropes and everyone nailed their scenes.”

After a long, exciting day, Hobson’s scene wrapped and the taping was over. But not before she had an opportunity to get up close and personal with the entire “Hot in Cleveland” cast and guest stars for a post-show group photo. The photo is one she will cherish for many years to come. “I couldn’t sleep that night. I called my family after the show and kept trying to replay what had just happened.”

While it was a day Hobson will never forget, she is nervous to see the episode air. “I’ll probably have my hands in front of eyes the entire time the first time I watch the episode.” While she may be covering her eyes, the rest of TV Land will be tuning in to see their friend and coworker make her television debut.

TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland returns on Wednesday, June 19 at 10pm ET with a LIVE episode.

]]>http://blog.viacom.com/2013/01/happy-91st-birthday-betty-white/feed/0http://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Daina-Photo-100x100.jpghttp://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot_in_cleveland_betty_white-240x200.jpgOverheard @ TCA 2013: Viacom Verbatimshttp://blog.viacom.com/2013/01/tca-2013-viacom-verbatims/
http://blog.viacom.com/2013/01/tca-2013-viacom-verbatims/#commentsMon, 07 Jan 2013 20:41:09 +0000http://blog.viacom.com/?p=4154Viacom Media Networks owned the final day of cable presentations at the winter TCA press tour with three events, from morning to night. TV Land started the day by getting the critics up bright and early for a breakfast featuring the cast of hit series Hot in Cleveland. In the afternoon, VMN panel presentations commenced […]

]]>Viacom Media Networks owned the final day of cable presentations at the winter TCA press tour with three events, from morning to night. TV Land started the day by getting the critics up bright and early for a breakfast featuring the cast of hit series Hot in Cleveland. In the afternoon, VMN panel presentations commenced in the Langham Hotel’s Huntington Ballroom, where stars like Jenny McCarthy, J.B. Smoove and Nick Kroll turned on the charm for the writers. Then it was time to drink and mingle at the BET Networks-hosted cocktail party with the casts of Real Husbands of Hollywood, Second Generation Wayans, The Game and other network shows.

For those who missed out on the action-packed day, we took some notes on what we overheard:

“I made a point of being a sexpert, and ten years later, here I am.” – former adult film star Katie Morgan on her credentials as a panelist on “That Sex Show,” Logo’s upcoming live, late night relationship and sex advice show.

“Today I’m pleased to announce that Logo has just signed a development deal with Cher — yes, Cher, and veteran TV writer, producer, cult fan favorite Ron Zimmerman — for a pilot script set in Hollywood in the early 1960s.” – Brent Zacky, SVP, Original Programming, Logo.

“I said, ‘Well, how many times do you want me to wear this blue Speedo?’ And without missing a beat, [the exec producer] just said, ‘As many times as you feel comfortable.’ And that kind of opened the whole, you know, adventure up to me. And from that moment on, I just embraced the idea, the concept.” – actor Lorenzo Lamas on signing up for Spike’s “The Joe Schmo Show.”

“There’s a loose arc to a lot of it… I think that’s one of the things we were trying to do and differentiate us from other sketch shows in that there is a really strong narrative thread and that you learn more about these characters with each episode.” – Nick Kroll on Comedy Central’s upcoming sketch comedy, Kroll Show

“He does so many different, diverse characters in such a convincing way, you will probably agree with me that he has some sort of personality disorder.” – Kent Alterman, Head of Original Programming & Production, COMEDY CENTRAL, on star Nick Kroll of Kroll Show

“We’re trying to steal as much as we can from [HBO show] Girls.” – Workaholics star Adam Devine on finding inspiration for the upcoming season.

“The new season is so good, it’s going to make a lot of people in the audience feel like total idiots for liking it before. It’s that much better.” – Kent Alterman on the upcoming season of Workaholics

“We are in production on more shows than ever before, and in April, we’ll open a new night of originals anchored by a new ten‑episode series starring two of the most bankable stars on the planet, Duane Chapman, aka “Dog,” and his wife Beth.” – Jayson Dinsmore, EVP, Development and Programming, CMT, introducing new bounty hunting reality series, DOG (wt).

“We’re on a mission from God.” – Duane “Dog” Chapman on devoting his life to bounty hunting.

“If you’re not your authentic self in today’s TV, you’re not going to last… So that’s what I’m hoping to do, is be my authentic self.” – star Jenny McCarthy on The Jenny McCarthy Show

“We have so many new shows coming, I think, more original shows than we’ve had in our history, and I think a couple of them are going to be pretty good.” – Kent Alterman

“Funny is funny and men are going to be men ‑‑ white men, black men, Indian men ‑‑ we all do the same stupid stuff over and over again, and that’s why it’s called ‘Real Husbands.’ We just happen to live in Hollywood.” – cast member J.B. Smoove on BET’s new original series, Real Husbands of Hollywood, a semi-scripted, reality-TV satire skewing all things “Housewives”-like.

“I watch the Basketball Wives and I’ve watched the orange — the ones with the orange wives… Pretty much every state has a “Wives” show that I’ve watched.” – Real Husbands of Hollywood star Kevin Hart on his guilty pleasure shows.

And to finish off strong, Smoove closed out our presentation by asking Hart whether his feet dangle when he sits on the toilet.

]]>http://blog.viacom.com/2013/01/tca-2013-viacom-verbatims/feed/0http://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Neena-Koyen-100x100.jpghttp://blog.viacom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PG1_0875-280x200.jpgViacom Receives 21 Emmy Nominationshttp://blog.viacom.com/2012/07/viacom-receives-21-emmy-nominations/
http://blog.viacom.com/2012/07/viacom-receives-21-emmy-nominations/#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2012 17:09:04 +0000http://blog.viacom.com/?p=3031 We’d like to give it up big-time for the incredible teams behind the creation and production of all of Viacom’s Emmy-nominated programs. From the more seasoned The Daily Show (now a 44-time Emmy nominee) to newer shows like Victorious and iCarly, our programs raked in a total of 21 nominations. We’re proud and thrilled […]

We’d like to give it up big-time for the incredible teams behind the creation and production of all of Viacom’s Emmy-nominated programs. From the more seasoned The Daily Show (now a 44-time Emmy nominee) to newer shows like Victorious and iCarly, our programs raked in a total of 21 nominations.

We’re proud and thrilled to see the hard work that goes on (on- and off-screen) recognized with so many nominations for one of television’s highest honors. It’s a coup across our Music, Entertainment and Nickelodeon groups — and it’s wonderful reaffirmation of the creative excellence that thrives here at Viacom.Congrats to everyone who made the following nominations possible.

NickelodeonThe Penguins of Madagascar “The Return Of The Revenge Of Dr. Blowhole — Outstanding Animated ProgramiCarly — Outstanding Children’s ProgramVictorious — Outstanding Children’s ProgramVictorious — Outstanding Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series or SpecialVictorious — Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosethetic)

TeenNickDegrassi — Outstanding Children’s Program

TV LandHot in Cleveland “God and Football” — Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy SeriesHot in Cleveland “Bridezelka” — Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosethetic)

Presented by the prestigious Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Emmys recognize excellence in national primetime programming. The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented in two ceremonies. The first, primarily for creative arts categories, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 15, while the balance of the Emmys, primarily for the performing arts, will be announced before a black-tie audience during a primetime telecast on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 23 at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, CA.